Wednesday 13 April 2011

Newsflash: That Old Adage ‘Children Should Be Seen And Not Heard’..?

Yes, it applies to you:
Mums claim they are being pushed out of a neighbourhood centre.

Dozens have signed up to a Facebook group after they said Greenstead Community Centre banned children from its cafe in the afternoons.

It was launched after parents were told youngsters were only welcome in the cafe at certain hours.
And this prompted utter OUTRAGE!!! that little Ryan and Chardonnay are no longer given free rein to make everyone else’s lives a misery.

How dare other people want to enjoy a coffee without the din of other people’s spawn?
Crystal Roberts, 28, who set up the Facebook page, said: “Families are now directed to a back room, out of the way. There are no seats for adults and no toys for children.
It means people can no longer socialise in the cafe.’’
Actually, no. It means other people can now socialise in the café….
The group, called Bring back the old Greenstead Community Centre, says it has complained.
Mother-of-two Crystal said: “But the managment is not interested. They want to get more money to keep the centre going, so we are being pushed out.

“It’s discrimination, not what a community centre is supposed to be about.

“We want the centre back to how it was, welcoming, a great meeting place, somewhere pleasant to bring your children in between playgroups.”
And others would like that too, only without the damn children.

As the trustee patiently explains:
Trustee Julie Young said: “The centre is predominantly used by mums with small children.

“We have lost business as a result of noise levels created by children playing with toys in the cafe.

“We tried to think of a solution that would keep them happy, so we created a separate room, where parents could occupy the children. “The idea was once they had finished lunch, they could retire to the family room, leaving the cafe free for others.’’
But no, they’d rather not consider the needs of others, hence the wailing and rending of garments.
She added: “It’s about balancing the needs of all users and making the centre financially stable. ’’
Any shortfall caused by the lack of mothers using the place as free childcare will no doubt be offset by the grateful users who are now no longer expected to put up with other people’s children and their ‘free expression time’.

14 comments:

Dembones said...

It is always other people's children that are disruptive, never our own. However, if you replace the word smokers in place of children; I do not think your argument holds much weight.

Pavlov's Cat said...

They want to get more money to keep the centre going, so we are being pushed out.

So she would rather it closed completely. Much like everything these days, it's the view of if I can't have it, then no one can.

Longrider said...

...if you replace the word smokers in place of children; I do not think your argument holds much weight.

Oh, I don't know... The cafe is being reasonable in providing somewhere for families to go once they've eaten their meal. This reduces the disruption for those currently eating - and will free up table space for incoming customers.

If a private premises wanted to have separate accommodation for smokers rather than families, I fail to see any wrong in that.

Their gaff, their rules. Unfortunately, the state won't allow them that liberty.

Anonymous said...

A couple of years ago, a local pub attracted press attention - and outrage from local mothers - when it banned breastfeeding on its premises...

Yes, breast may be best, but when you're trying to enjoy a lunchtime pint and then crying babies are suddenly silenced by some not very attractive breasts being brought out and the winding afterwards, it can really put a chap off.

Captain Haddock said...

I recall years ago (36 years to be precise) when my daughter was a couple of months old, a group of us including my parents, my wife & myself being asked to leave a Pub on the Norfolk Broads after being told that they had a "No Children" policy ..

We just untied the boat & found another pub for lunch ..

Mind you .. my daughter has never lived down the fact that she got thrown out of Licensed Premises before she could even talk .. ;)

Ancient and tattered airman said...

hence the wailing and rending of garments.

Gnashing of teeth are currently out of fashion it seems!

Captain Haddock said...

"Gnashing of teeth are currently out of fashion it seems" !

Difficult to do a convincing bit of "gnashing" (I would imagine) whilst gripping a ciggie between them .. or masticating a gob-full of Wrigley's .. ;)

blueknight said...

some not very attractive breasts being brought out..

Got it in one - Topless Barmaid Night at The Haymarket pub Southampton. circa 1973.

Anonymous said...

steveshark said..."...a local pub... banned breastfeeding on its premises..."
...
It says far more about any breeder that demands to feed her offspring in this manner in the middle of a pub that it would ever say about the publican who banned it.

Anonymous said...

*THAN it would ever say...not that...

Mike said...

Yes because when people choose to have a child it is automaticaly our collective responsibility. OK in some cases it is not a choice, woman 'forgets' to take the pill or is raped. Anywho why is it our responsibilty? Because your child will pay my pension when I'm old? Clean up after itself and do jobs for me that I can't do anymore. I think not, Ryan and Chardonny will probably nick my car, kill you while joyriding it and then bash each other's head in fighting over who gets to wear the meat dress to work.
So no, if your child can't behave in public take it home and teach it some manners before inflicting it on the rest of us. Oh, and pay for your child's public facilities like the rest of us do or, choose not to have children until you can satisfy any or all of the above.

JuliaM said...

"So she would rather it closed completely. Much like everything these days, it's the view of if I can't have it, then no one can."

There's a follow-up post coming today that makes it even more of a tale of modern times!

"Yes, breast may be best, but when you're trying to enjoy a lunchtime pint and then crying babies are suddenly silenced by some not very attractive breasts being brought out and the winding afterwards, it can really put a chap off."

As anon at 23:16 points out, the very desire to do that tells you a lot about the sort of person you are dealing with!

"Mind you .. my daughter has never lived down the fact that she got thrown out of Licensed Premises before she could even talk .. ;)"

I'm afraid her claim to fame has been well and truly superseded... ;)

"Yes because when people choose to have a child it is automaticaly our collective responsibility. "

Indeed!

Anonymous said...

As a smoker who no longer visits cafes, I find all this very funny.

Captain Haddock said...

@ JuliaM ..

There was a very similar case in Lincolnshire, only this week ..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1376345/Bungling-police-threaten-unborn-baby-ASBO-identifying-nuisance.html